A key ally of Ivory Coast’s disputed leader Laurent Gbagbo has resigned as head of the Central Bank of West African States amid regional pressure, BBC online reports Saturday.
The bank said that Governor Philippe Henri Dacoury-Tabley, an Ivorian, had failed to implement an order to no longer accept Mr Gbagbo’s signature for funds. Meanwhile, the European Union had said it would impose sanctions on Mr Dacoury-Tabley, making his position untenable.
The internationally recognised new president Alassane Ouattara has been asked to designate a new bank chief. Mr Ouattara says Mr Gbagbo has withdrawn hundreds of millions of dollars from the bank since the disputed November presidential election.
Mr Gbagbo has refused to step down as president. Late on Saturday he said he rejected the resignation of Mr Dacoury-Tabley.
The Central Bank of West African States groups the treasuries of eight West African countries.
UN peacekeepers are protecting Mr Ouattara in his temporary headquarters at a hotel in the main city of Abidjan.
The presidential election in November was supposed to reunify Ivory Coast, divided since a 2002 civil war. The country’s electoral commission said Mr Ouattara had won – a position backed by the UN mission in Ivory Coast, which helped organise the poll.
But Mr Gbagbo’s supporters said that the New Forces rebels who control the north had rigged the poll in favour of Mr Ouattara. The Constitutional Council, headed by an ally of Mr Gbagbo, then annulled votes in these areas and declared Mr Gbagbo the winner, BBC notes.
